Dear Soiled Plans,
That is a wonderful and creative look for a planter! Kudos to you for that idea! Starting off with the right soil is a key to the health of your container plants. You are wise to care about this issue. Soil is not just a dirty word!

Of Soils and Planters…

First things first; if you are planting in a container, you do not want to use regular garden soil. It will not provide the right aeration and draining that your plants need, nor give your plants the nutrients they need.

Planting mixes are specially created for container planting. They are very different from the soil in your lawn. As hard as it may be to believe, many good potting mixes do not even contain soil!. They are made to give your plants the aeration, the drainage, and the nutrients they need and are intended to be used for one growing season. Because of this, the ingredients tend to be used up over time and by the next year will need a fresh batch of potting mix.

You should carefully read your potting mix ingredients, same as you would your own food labels. You want to know what is in the bag you are buying. These are typical ingredients found in your potting mix:

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[tab title=”Peat Moss”]

Peat moss consists of ground-up bog plants. It holds several times its weight in moisture, and releases the moisture to the plants roots as needed. It also holds onto nutrients so that they aren’t rinsed out of the soil when you water the plant. Plants that require moist growing conditions will love peat moss.

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[tab title=”Vermiculite”]

Vermiculite is made from ground mica. It helps the soil absorb moisture and nutrients, then releases them slowly. Vermiculite will also aerate your soil, making it less compact and better for your young plants.

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[tab title=”Bark”]

Potting mixes will have some degree of bark pieces and twigs in it. These chunks help to give the roots more room to breath and grow. Cheaper brands tend to make your mix feel more like mulch. Check to see if you can see and feel your mix before you purchase it.

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[tab title=”Sand”]

Sand is used for plants that need less moisture. Sand does not absorb water well,  so a sandy mix tends to be lighter and dries out more quickly. It would be great for your cacti collection.

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[tab title=”Perlite”]

Perlite is a common ingredient in soil mixes. It looks like little white puff balls. It is used to absorb and release water quickly. It also improves drainage and makes the soil lighter. Your plants may need more frequent watering if there is perlite in your mix.

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Lastly, your planted arrangement will want plant food. Some potting mixes will come with the fertilizer already in it. If the potting mix you’re using doesn’t contain fertilizer, I recommend Espoma’s Bio-tone Starter Plus. Apply this fertilizer to the top layer of potting mix and “scratch” it into place with a hand rake.

A real treat for your plants is to give them a drink of Flora’s Famous Formula; just mix a little of your home compost with water and use this homemade tea to water your container plants. They will love it!

Then make yourself a large glass of ice tea. Your dirty work is done!

Wrap Up

Thanks so much for writing in Soiled Plans, I hope that your new garden looks fresh and healthy! If you have any other questions swing by Koopmanplants.com to learn more or contact one of your local Koopman locations!

Happy Gardening,

Flora Gardener